A major package of upgrades is to be made to the Great Eastern Main line from London to Norwich next year, providing passengers with a better, more reliable railway.

The £170 million programme will involve improvements to overhead lines, track and signalling, with one of Network Rail's fleet of 'high output' machines employed to improve the line's reliability, while providing a smoother ride for passengers.

This £42 million machine provides considerable efficiency gains compared with conventional methods, allowing the upgrade to take place in two years rather than 12.

It scoops up the crushed rock that the track sits on, before sieving out any small, broken pieces and replacing them with the same weight in fresh stone.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail route managing director, said: "This work is part of a significant investment programme to bring the railway into the 21st century and deliver a better service to passengers."